Day 53 | Trump extends ceasefire to give Iran time to negotiate
The 2026 Iran War began on February 28, when the United States and ‘Israel’ launched a large-scale attack on Iran, unleashing nearly 900 airstrikes within 12 hours on the Islamic Republic’s missile systems, air defenses, nuclear facilities, military bases, and leadership targets.
The assault followed years of shadow conflict, including direct missile exchanges in 2024 and a limited 12-day war in 2025 that damaged Iran’s nuclear and ballistic capabilities.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior officials were killed in the opening strikes. Iran responded within hours, launching waves of ballistic missiles and drones at ‘Israel’, US bases, and targets across the Gulf.
On April 8, the United States, Iran, and ‘Israel’ agreed to a temporary two-week ceasefire, brokered by Pakistan, with Iran committing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz while negotiations continue toward a broader agreement.
The fragile truce has since come under strain, particularly as ‘Israel’ launched major bombardments in Lebanon and clashes with the Iran-backed group Hezbollah intensified.
Here’s the latest updates:
- US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire with Iran ends “Wednesday evening Washington time,” adding it’s “highly unlikely” he would extend it if a deal is not reached before then.
- US President Donald Trump said Sunday that US forces intercepted an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman after it allegedly attempted to breach a US naval blockade.
- Trump Signals Imminent Deal: President Trump stated on April 16 that the US is "very close" to a deal, claiming Iran has agreed to "almost everything." He has even floated the possibility of traveling to Pakistan, the primary mediator, to sign a final agreement.
- The "$20 Billion for Uranium" Swap: Discussions have centered on a high-stakes proposal where Iran would hand over its entire enriched uranium stockpile (reportedly around 440 kg) in exchange for the release of $20 billion in frozen funds.
- Key Sticking Points: While Trump is optimistic, Iranian officials have called the total handover of uranium a "non-starter." Disagreements remain over the length of an enrichment pause, with the US demanding 20 years and Iran offering 3–5 years.
- Hormuz Closed Again: After a brief 24-hour reopening on April 17, Iran re-closed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, April 18. Tehran cited the continued US naval blockade as a violation of the spirit of the truce.
- Contradictory Sea Rules: The situation is volatile; while Iran briefly declared the Strait "open" to commercial traffic, the US naval blockade remains in "full force." Since the blockade began on April 13, CENTCOM has intercepted at least 23 vessels.
- Economic Pressure: The blockade is costing Iran an estimated $400 million per day in revenue. Experts warn that if the blockade isn't lifted by April 26, Iranian oil wells may suffer permanent damage due to overflow.
- 10-Day Ceasefire Holding: The US-brokered ceasefire between ‘Israel’ and Lebanon, which began on April 16, is largely holding despite high tension.
- Oil Price Volatility: Oil prices initially plummeted by 11% (US Crude to ~$83) on Friday following the brief reopening of the Strait. However, prices are expected to face renewed upward pressure following Iran's Saturday decision to re-close the waterway.
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Read more: Day 54 | Trump says he will extend ceasefire with Iran until negotiations conclude
Trump says truce extended to allow Iran to submit “unified proposal”
US President Donald Trump announced that he will extend the ceasefire with Iran “until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal”.
Trump says his decision is “Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured”.
“I have therefore directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and will therefore extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other,” Trump said on Truth Social.
Trump extends ceasefire with Iran
Trump extends ceasefire with Iran
Iran threatens to end Gulf countries' oil production
Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Tuesday threatened to end oil production in the Middle East if the Islamic republic faced attacks launched from its Gulf neighbours' territory.
"The southern neighbours should know that if their geography and facilities are used in the service of the enemies to attack the Iranian nation, they should bid farewell to oil production in the Middle East," the commander of Guards' aerospace force, Majid Mousavi, was quoted by Fars news agency as saying.
Iran will not attend Wednesday’s talks in Pakistan: Tasnim
IRGC-affiliated news agency Tasnim said Tuesday that Iran will not be present in Islamabad, Pakistan on Wednesday for the negotiations with the US.
“Iran's decision not to be in Pakistan on Wednesday is final,” Tasnim said in its report.
“The Iranian negotiating team has announced to the American side through a Pakistani intermediary for various reasons that it will not be present in Islamabad, Pakistan on Wednesday”.
“And there is currently no prospect of participating in the negotiations,” it added.
Iran also considers the talks “a waste of time”, due to various issues including the US blockade on Iranian ports, according to Tasnim.
Hezbollah confirms attack on ‘Israel’ in response to “truce violations”
Hezbollah said it launched an attack on northern ‘Israel’ on Tuesday in retaliation for what it said were ‘Israeli’ violations of a 10-day ceasefire, the first such claim since the truce began.
Hezbollah said in a statement that "in defence of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the blatant" ceasefire violations including "attacks on civilians and the destruction of their homes and villages", its fighters launched rockets and attack drones at a military site in northern ‘Israel’ that it said was the source of artillery shelling towards a south Lebanon town.
The ‘Israeli’ military said earlier Tuesday that Hezbollah "launched several rockets" towards soldiers stationed in south Lebanon and that the military struck the launcher in response, adding that sirens had sounded in two northern ‘Israel’ settlements after a drone fired from Lebanon was intercepted before crossing into ‘Israeli’ territory.
Iran says US blockade an “act of war”, ceasefire violation
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi denounced the US blockade of Iranian ports, describing it as an “act of war” and a violation of the ceasefire.
“Striking a commercial vessel and taking its crew hostage is an even greater violation,” Araghchi said on X
“Iran knows how to neutralize restrictions, how to defend its interests, and how to resist bullying,” he added.
Blockading Iranian ports is an act of war and thus a violation of the ceasefire.
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) April 21, 2026
Striking a commercial vessel and taking its crew hostage is an even greater violation.
Iran knows how to neutralize restrictions, how to defend its interests, and how to resist bullying.
Iran Guards demand end to US blockade before talks: Report
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is pushing a hard line by refusing to engage in talks with the United States as long as the US naval blockade on Iranian ports stands, according to Axios.
The report comes as Iran is yet to deliver a message on whether it will participate in the second round of negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Vice President JD Vance, expected to lead a US delegation at upcoming negotiations, was still in Washington midday Tuesday to participate in meetings, the White House said.
"Additional policy meetings are taking place at the White House in which the vice president will participate," an official said in a brief statement shortly after 1700 GMT.
Mediators from Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey spend all Monday urging Iranian officials to come to the talks, the report by Axios said.
White House says Vance still in Washington
Vice President JD Vance, expected to lead a US delegation at upcoming negotiations with Iran in Pakistan, was still in Washington midday Tuesday to participate in meetings, the White House said.
"Additional policy meetings are taking place at the White House in which the vice president will participate," an official said in a brief statement shortly after 1700 GMT.
The official did not provide further details. But Vance's departure -- which has been the subject of contradictory announcements -- was scheduled for Tuesday morning, according to recent reports.
Vance Pakistan trip paused as Iran undecided on talks: Axios
US Vice President JD Vance’s trip to Islamabad to participate in the talks was delayed for hours, as Iran’s leadership has not yet decided whether to take part in a new round of negotiations, according to US officials and sources cited by Axios.
The report added that there is an internal dispute in Tehran whether to participate or not, amid the ongoing naval blockade of Iranian ports by the US military.
Iran denies eight women facing execution after Trump’s statements
Iran's judiciary denied on Tuesday that eight women were at risk of execution after US President Donald Trump had requested clemency on their behalf.
"Trump was misled once again by fake news," the judiciary's official Mizan Online website said. "The women who were claimed to be on the verge of execution, some of them have been released, while others face charges that, if convictions are upheld, would at most result in imprisonment."
Trump had earlier said on social media that the women's release could work in Iran's favour in negotiations, re-posting an activist's claim that eight women were facing death by hanging. That claim did not give names but included photographs of the women.
‘Israeli’ strikes Hezbollah position claiming it breached truce
The ‘Israeli’ military said Tuesday that Hezbollah breached the truce by firing several rockets at ‘Israeli’ troops in southern Lebanon, as well as a drone.
The military added in the statement that it struck the Hezbollah launcher used in the alleged attack.
Iran state TV says ceasefire to expire at midnight GMT
Iranian state TV said a ceasefire with the United States in force since April 8 would expire at 3:30 am Wednesday, Tehran time (00:00 GMT Tuesday).
The timing is consistent with when the 14-day truce went into effect, though US President Donald Trump recently said it would end a day later, on Wednesday evening Washington time.
Mediator Pakistan, meanwhile, has said the ceasefire will end at 23:50 GMT Tuesday.
Pakistan waiting for Iran’s formal response on attending US talks
Mediator Pakistan has yet to receive a formal response from Iran on whether it would send a delegation for a second round of talks with the United States, Islamabad's information minister said Tuesday.
"Formal response from Iranian side about confirmation of delegation to attend Islamabad Peace Talks is still awaited," Minister Attaullah Tarar posted on X, saying that a decision was "critical" as just hours remained until the two-week ceasefire struck between the warring sides expires.
Iran condemns attacks on minority religious sites by US, ‘Israel’
Iran’s High Council for Human Rights has strongly condemned what it described as US and ‘Israeli’ attacks on religious, cultural, and historical sites across the country, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency.
The council said the strikes reflect a deliberate effort to destroy symbols associated with religious minorities in Iran.
Targeted sites
In its statement, the council said the attacks included the destruction of the Tehran Jewish Synagogue, as well as significant damage to the Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral and St Mary Greek Orthodox Church.
It added that these incidents go beyond violations of international humanitarian law and represent an assault on freedom of belief.
“These attacks show a complete disregard by the aggressor regimes for basic human rights and international standards,” the council said, adding that they point to “a deliberate attempt to erase the identity of religious minorities in Iran.”
The statement concluded by emphasizing that religious minorities in Iran “enjoy their rights within the framework of law and mutual respect.”
Mossad agent killed during operations against Iran: intelligence chief
The Director ‘Israel’s’ intelligence service Mossad, David Barnea, announced on Tuesday that an ‘Israeli’ agent, identified only as M., was killed during operations against Iran.
"The operations led by M. combined creativity, cunning, and technology and significantly influenced the success of the campaign against Iran," Barnea said at a ceremony.
The agent was killed outside of ‘Israel’ but it was not specified where they died and when.
Following the statement, Hebrew media reported that the Mossad agent died in Italy in 2023 while allegedly working with Italian intelligence against Tehran to prevent it from obtaining "advanced weapons".
He was killed north of Milan in Lake Maggiore, after his boat sank, which also killed two members of Italian intelligence.
He was a senior agent within ‘Israel’s’ intelligence service, with around 30 years of service.
‘Israeli’ military says punished soldier who smashed statue of Jesus in Lebanon
The ‘Israeli’ military said Tuesday it has disciplined a soldier who damaged a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon, following an inquiry into the incident after the image went viral.
The probe found the soldier vandalized the symbol in the Christian village of Debel in southern Lebanon while another soldier photographed the act, which was later circulated.
Six additional soldiers present failed to intervene or report the incident.
The ‘Israeli’ military claimed the actions “completely deviated” from its orders and values.
The soldier responsible and the one who documented the act were removed from combat and sentenced to 30 days of military detention.
Other troops at the scene will face further disciplinary review, per the statement.
It also claimed that it will assist the local community in replacing the statue.
Pakistan FM calls for extension of US-Iran truce
The US Chargé d’Affaires in Islamabad Natalie A. Baker held a phone call with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Senator of Pakistan Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Tuesday. Discussions covered the recent diplomatic talks and regional developments.
Ishaq Dar stressed on Pakistan's emphasis on dialogue and diplomacy and stated it is the only viable way to solve the situation and achieve lasting regional peace and stability.
He stated there is a need for engagement between the United States and Iran, urging both sides to consider extending the ceasefire and giving the diplomatic talks a chance.
Baker showed appreciation for Pakistan's role as a mediator to promote regional peace and facilitate diplomatic talks.
Pakistan's foreign ministry said that Dar has asked both the US and Iran to prolong the ceasefire.
This comes after US President Donald Trump stated that he is not willing to extend the ceasefire and that he is “ready to go” back into war with Iran.
No comment was made from Iran on whether they are joining diplomatic talks in Islamabad yet as Pakistan is continuing to push the diplomatic efforts
Supreme Leader's representative in IRGC denies ongoing negotiations
The representative of the Iranian Supreme Leader in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has explicitly denied that any diplomatic talks are currently underway.
In a firm statement, the official asserted that there are "currently no negotiations," emphasizing that Tehran will only engage in dialogue once "the enemy accepts our conditions."
Trump says US in “very, very strong” position for Iran talks
President Donald Trump touted the strong negotiation position of the United States on Tuesday as his envoys prepared for talks with Iran in Pakistan to end the Middle East conflict.
"We're going to end up with a great deal. I think they have no choice... We're in a very, very strong negotiating position," Trump told broadcaster CNBC.
